The province is subsidizing rides on the Union Pearson Express (UPX) at much lower levels than it did last year, but it still costs the public about $11 every time a passenger boards the controversial air-rail link.

According to figures that will be presented at the Metrolinx board on Wednesday, it cost the provincial government $62.8 million to operate the train between Union Station and Pearson Airport during the fiscal year that ran from April 2016 to March 2017.

Over the same period, 2.76 million people rode the service. With revenues from fares and other sources totaling $32.4 million, the government provided a subsidy of $30.4 million, or about $11 per rider.

So you think the solution to already losing $11 a rider is to what, let someone who paid $3 get on a $9 premium train....

I think Doug Ford's mayoral team is looking for a finance controller, I think they would short list you with this math.

For what it's worth I have a few business traveller friends that love UP and yes they fully can expense an airport taxi/limo.

I need to get from downtown to airport in the next couple of weeks. I'll end up paying more for uber to union than UP and am still happy to do it for predictable arrival time.

If anything there should be a reasonable combo TTC/UP ticket. Besides if you are headed to the airport during rush hour, how budget conscience are you really? Usually travelling for work or pleasure, in any case the extra peso shouldn't matter too much. However I travel solo mostly or meet friends at airport. Otherwise I uber, you can uber from most spots downtown when the Gardiner is moving (and many times it is for $30 ish)

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So you think the solution to already losing $11 a rider is to what, let someone who paid $3 get on a $9 premium train....

I think Doug Ford's mayoral team is looking for a finance controller, I think they would short list you with this math.

For what it's worth I have a few business traveller friends that love UP and yes they fully can expense an airport taxi/limo.

I need to get from downtown to airport in the next couple of weeks. I'll end up paying more for uber to union than UP and am still happy to do it for predictable arrival time.

If anything there should be a reasonable combo TTC/UP ticket. Besides if you are headed to the airport during rush hour, how budget conscience are you really? Usually travelling for work or pleasure, in any case the extra peso shouldn't matter too much. However I travel solo mostly or meet friends at airport. Otherwise I uber, you can uber from most spots downtown when the Gardiner is moving (and many times it is for $30 ish)

They should connect the dundas stations like they said they were going to, union's already connected, then all what's left is build two more stations between dundas and union station and convert this disaster train into a TTC subway. Before you start screaming that a TTC subway is longer than the UPX this can be solved by using the cartless subway trains and opening the doors where there is a platform. Knowing how congested the subway is during rush hour, this new "downtown relief line" would be a major hit.

These idiotic planners need to operate these services profitably. No wonder that people weren't buying $28 tickets...it's cheaper to drive or take an uber at that price. The government got taken for a ride as usual. They need to cut operating costs across the board. Whatever it takes to run this thing in the black with the current fare. They should also consider boosting the fare to $15 a person...I think that's the price point where riders look at other options

I think they need to look at variable pricing like peak and off peak pricing.
This thing runs quite frequently.
during peak seats are full but off peak it's shameful to be running it so empty.
Maybe also look at a reduced fare rate for those transferring from other transit systems.
I remember when GO train riders From Bramalea GO station paid 50 cents to ride Brampton Transit.
Maybe even incorporate it into the GTA pass.

These idiotic planners need to operate these services profitably. No wonder that people weren't buying $28 tickets...it's cheaper to drive or take an uber at that price. The government got taken for a ride as usual. They need to cut operating costs across the board. Whatever it takes to run this thing in the black with the current fare. They should also consider boosting the fare to $15 a person...I think that's the price point where riders look at other options

lol almost all public transit doesn't operate with a profit. If you expect public transit to operate with a profit, roads should operate with a profit as well. I agree that things could be done to reduce operating costs though.

blaznazn22 wrote: ↑These idiotic planners need to operate these services profitably. No wonder that people weren't buying $28 tickets...it's cheaper to drive or take an uber at that price. The government got taken for a ride as usual. They need to cut operating costs across the board. Whatever it takes to run this thing in the black with the current fare. They should also consider boosting the fare to $15 a person...I think that's the price point where riders look at other options

Assuming you are a solo traveller you'd be very lucky to get to Pearson for $28 when the highways are dead. I take uber from east downtown for early morning USA flights where UP isn't running and it's $30+

$9 is a bargain. I usually spend more getting to union with uber then the fare.

Predictability in arrival time has value. That said I fly the island if ever possible (often dinging my company for more but I just don't care ) maybe not In winter as Pearson is more reliable

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Assuming you are a solo traveller you'd be very lucky to get to Pearson for $28 when the highways are dead. I take uber from east downtown for early morning USA flights where UP isn't running and it's $30+

$9 is a bargain. I usually spend more getting to union with uber then the fare.

Predictability in arrival time has value. That said I fly the island if ever possible (often dinging my company for more but I just don't care ) maybe not In winter as Pearson is more reliable

You can take subway + 192 bus, also pretty predictable and only costs $3, and my experience has been great, only about 5-10 minutes longer than UP - but that’s because I would need to take subway to union first in order to get on UP

lol almost all public transit doesn't operate with a profit. If you expect public transit to operate with a profit, roads should operate with a profit as well. I agree that things could be done to reduce operating costs though.

Of course ttc should be run with a profit motive. Cut costs across the board, and run these services with a profit mentality. Why the hell would they run it at a loss?? That's unsustainable in the long run. TTC fares need to go up in order to reflect the cost of running the service. Otherwise ttc needs to fire some workers, cut buses and whatever else.

Of course ttc should be run with a profit motive. Cut costs across the board, and run these services with a profit mentality. Why the hell would they run it at a loss?? That's unsustainable in the long run. TTC fares need to go up in order to reflect the cost of running the service. Otherwise ttc needs to fire some workers, cut buses and whatever else.

psst. This is Canada. anything run on back of taxpayers is make profit for union workers. Taxpayers only get massive bills and loss.

“There are some things money can’t buy, and for everything else there’s MasterCard. Well, get out your checkbooks ladies and gentlemen, because it seems like the entire liberal cabinet can be bought. TRUDEAU: I CAN’T BE BOUGHT...LMAO. Because its 2017

You can take subway + 192 bus, also pretty predictable and only costs $3, and my experience has been great, only about 5-10 minutes longer than UP - but that’s because I would need to take subway to union first in order to get on UP

For early morning flights to the USA the subway starts running around 6 am, UP express starts at 5:30 am and is simply more reliable. Even if timing wasn't the issues, consistency is. As a solo business traveller I can uber to Pearson for around $30-$40 (these days I just don't even understand how uber prices their trips) flat rate taxi is around $50.

If anything we should be dinging business travellers significantly harder for prime times and in prime directions. I can get to the airport from downtown in 20-30 min reliably FROM downtown at 7-9am, however getting TO downtown from 7-9 am would take very long in a taxi. Sure it's flat rate but if you care about time and most business workers especially same day travellers do, the UP express should certainly carry a premium.

When I travel for business I don't pay personally, but we do have an internal culture of being cost effective during our business travels to a reasonable extent of course (save the per diem for wine)

Anyone who has done day trips to centreville montreal know the pain of getting to YUL around 4 or 5 pm. Ughh no thanks.

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They should directly tax each airline that uses Pearson, a tax that goes directly towards this service. Then it's problem solved since a large part the cost of this service is now hidden inside your airfare.